RIVER BRANCH, was created on a sketching trip along the American River while accompanied by our family dog Connor. As Connor was playing in the water I happened to glance down at my feet and saw this river branch partially covered by beach sand. An ideal sketch right thereat my feet. I completed the composition with the images of plants from memory.
I am reminded of some of the very best art advice I ever received. I was a watercolor student of Louis Miljarak at the Calilfornia College of Arts and Crafts, at Oakland California. As was my habit that time in my young life, I spent a good portion of class time while at the Oakland estuary trying to find the perfect composition. Noticing my indecisiveness, Mr. Miljarak picked up a nearby stick and drew a 12 x 12 inch square, in the dirt at my feet. He then said, “My boy there is a lifetime of painting right there. I, of course thanked him for the advice, but I didn’t really “get it” until many years later. Priceless!
Leave a Reply